By Sean Jones: Keith Thurman isn’t giving up on his pursuit of landing a fight against Terence Crawford and will continue pushing to make that happen.
Thurman is persistent, and obviously, the money he will get from the Crawford fight will fatten his bank account. With a reported net worth of $3 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth, Thurman would do well financially fighting Crawford.
Thurman has been so inactive in the last six years that he’s missed out on many money fights that he could have enjoyed if he’d fought twice a year like a lot of the top fighters.
Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) let the inactive former WBA/WBC welterweight champion Thurman know today that he’s “never” going to give him a “shot” at fighting him because he didn’t face him in the past.
Thurman (30-1, 22 KOs) says Crawford can do whatever he wants, but he feels that he’s a good opponent for him.
If Crawford doesn’t get the fight that he’s asking for against the Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo winner or loser, he might change his mind because the pickings are slim at 154 as far as money fights ago.
Crawford isn’t going to move up to 168 and risk his hide against David Benavidez, David Morrell Jr., or Demetrius Andrade.
Terence wants to enjoy his soon retirement, and if he fights those guys, he could be in bad shape when he hands them up.
Crawford won’t be able to dominate Benavidez, Morrell Jr., or Andrade with a jab like he did Spence because they’ll walk through that punch and drop heavy H- bombs on him.
Thurman says he’s aging well
“Porter fought you and then instantly announced his retirement. You don’t go into a fight, ‘I don’t win this fight.’ Come on,” said Keith Thurman to Fight Hub TV, talking about Terence Crawford.
“You ask somebody like me. The fight was already over [before it started]. Nobody is a live dog like Thurman in these later years. 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, I’m going to be the only one.”
Thurman hasn’t fought since February of last year against Mario Barrios, so we don’t know if he’s still at that level.
It doesn’t look like Thurman will fight in 2023, and if he does return to the ring in early 2024, he’ll have been out of the ring two two years. Physically, Thurman doesn’t look as young as he was last year, which means he may not be the same fighter he was then.
“As I get old, y’all going to say, ‘Is he still in his prime? Why does he fight?” said Thurman. “I just want it on a level that I’ve always wanted it. So that’s all I have to say on today’s comment on Crawford.
“You can back-check his old interviews. You always put respect on my name, kid. Shawn still gave you a good fight. The way that you dominated Spence, even though he didn’t look like he had one title, let alone three titles,” said Thurman.
Is One Time being avoided?
“My favorite punch was that punch that you dropped him with,” said Thurman. “That was my favorite punch of the whole fight. That’s where I gave you your new nickname, ‘Crafty Crawford.’ You stuck with the fundamentals, sticking him with the jab. You were beating Spence up with a jab.
“You’re legacy is your legacy. It’s already done. You made it; you did it. I was avoided before I had a title. Now that I don’t have a title, I’m avoided again,” said Thurman, failing to mention that Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis has been calling him out nonstop.
Thurman isn’t being avoided by Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, that’s for sure. Maybe the other fighters are avoiding Thurman, but Boots Ennis sure isn’t, and he’s now the #1 fighter at 147 after Crawford & Spence moving up to 154.
“I’m a threat. I’m the toughest fight that anybody can have at 147. I’m the fighter that said, ‘I got an O, and I’m not afraid to let it go.’ Keith Thurman ain’t never been defeated. I fought Manny Pacquiao one-handed,” said Thurman.
My my how the tables have turned. @DannySwift you @keithfthurmanjr will never and I mean never get a shot at the top dog and that’s me. Y’all hoe assess didn’t want no smoke when I wanted to fight member. Now y’all want to fight so bad 🤣🤣🤣 go keep fighting each other like b4
— Terence Crawford (@terencecrawford) September 12, 2023
“Don’t make me call my doctor and show you the date when I first went into his office and was advised to have hand surgery before 2019, I fought two fights in 2019, and then I had my hand surgery.
“We know the life that we live as fighters. It is what it is, Bud. Say what you want to say. Go do a few more podcasts. Go get this easy check real quick. I’m not mad at you, kid.
“He [Spence] wants the smoke. He wants to get slapped up. He wants to get the money too. There are so many different ways to get blessings in life. You got to take your blessings when you can get them.
“If you want to do other things with your career, that’s on you. Tweet whatever you want,” said Thurman.
